Savar rescue operation officially ended at 6pm Monday. Maj Gen Chowdhury Hasan Suhrawardy, general officer commanding (GOC) of the ninth infantry division and also the head of the 19-day rescue operation, made the announcement at a press briefing at the make-shift control centre of the operation.
During the briefing, he said a total of 1,227 died in the biggest ever industrial accident in the country’s history. Of them, 12 died in hospital and 1,115 were found dead at the site. A total of 3,553 people were found, including the ones found dead. 1,744 people were taken to hospital. Most of them were given first aid. Some went home or even lent a hand in the rescue work.
The hospitals where the injured were sent are: Savar Combined Military Hospital, Upazila Health Complex, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, and Enam Medical College Hospital. 291 people are still admitted in hospitals. Among the dead, 834 were identified and their bodies were handed over to family members. 59 bodies are still in morgues. 234 people in total could not be identified or have been buried after a DNA sample was taken. Right now, there are no corpses in Adhorchandra High School ground, he added.
The rescue work was carried out in two phases. 2,437 were found alive in the first phase and 381 were found dead. In the second phase, when machines were used, one person was found alive and 734 were found dead, he said.
The district authority has recorded 176 names of people who are still missing or have not yet been identified. Some 56 have been identified from among the missing but 98 people are completely missing. However some bodies are still in the morgue and some were buried unidentified.
The relatives of missing people have been urged to take a DNA test.
The major general reiterated that there are no more bodies at the site.
“I want to assure everyone that there is no dead body at the site. If they have doubts, anyone can come and check the site now,” he said.
The Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BGMEA) will open an information cell where anyone can come and inquire about the missing people.
The army officer has thanked everyone involved in the rescue effort, and said: “We still have a lot to do here.We need to work with the people who were unhurt but now need jobs, those who will need a long time to recover as well as relatives who need support.” he continued.
He said the present information cell would be transferred to Savar Cantonment’s executive office (CEO).
The office will remain open from 8am in the morning till 2pm and it will also provide various kinds of support for victims and their families, Suhrawardy said.
From 6am tomorrow, the site of Rana Plaza would under the jurisdiction of the district administration.
“We have made a list of a thousand workers for whom we would like to arrange jobs as quickly as possible. We have also made a list of severely injured people who needs long-term treatment and the list been send to proper authorities.”
When asked whether the authorities have the physical addresses of the victims, the GOC said addresses of the people in hospital have been collected.
Police have been deployed in the district administration office where relatives are still waiting for news of their dear ones. At least 300 people are still waiting there for information, our correspondent reported.